rocks Archives - Spoonful of Imagination

Building a Fire Pit

July 1, 2013 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

Would you believe me when I say that this fire pit was free? It didn’t cost a dollar. The sweat and time were the only price for this huge, beautiful fire pit.

When we were visiting my sister the other week in Arkansas, we wanted to help her with some projects while we were there. She had on her to do list to build a fire pit. We literally found all these big rocks on her property and carried and carted them over to where she wanted her fire pit built. I wish I had huge gorgeous rocks like this lying around on my property too, don’t you!?

Of course, we had some really excited helpers that wanted to be apart of this project. Lucky for us, we did need some smaller rocks so they were quite helpful and of course good company.

The first step was to create the base size/structure of the fire pit by laying down the first round of rocks. My sister, Olivia, made it bigger than I was expecting, but I love it! I wouldn’t have thought to make such a huge fire pit, but it fits her property and land perfectly. This fire pit is easily four sizes larger than those metal circle pits they sell at hardware stores that I am use to seeing as fire pits around these parts.

We decided we thought about three rows of the big rocks would look the best. It then became a puzzle of aligning the rocks and placing them in the best way to create a circle rock wall with as level/sturdy foundation as possible.

After we got the rock wall in the shape and height we wanted, we inserted some of the smaller rocks into niches to create the most sturdy base as possible. What we wanted to prevent was any one siting or standing on the fire pit (when it’s not in use) and it tumbling over.

The last step was to test it out! I loved building the fire and watching the grass inside the pit immediately spread and burn away. The rocks kept the fire in though, so it worked. We had dinner grilling hot dogs and smores over the new fire pit to enjoy our hard work.

You might not have free gorgeous rocks on your property either, but would you build a fire pit out of rocks instead of buying a premade one? I know this project is now on my to do list for my home! To see more pictures of this fire pit in use and of our trip to Arkansas you can go read about the beauty of country living. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Art from Tree Bark

January 28, 2013 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Have you ever walked past something in nature and knew you just had to do something creative with it? I had that moment. It was about like picking up those sticks at the park to make my stick heart wall art. This piece of bark is thick-almost like a piece of wood, yet it has the fun texture and dimensional elements of bark. I knew it would be awesome for something, so I saved it and it worked perfectly for this little craft.

I love taking a natural element and mixing something else with it to come up with a beautiful piece. This week I mixed this bark with some jewel type rocks from the Dollar Tree to come up with Art from Tree Bark.

To create your own piece, simply lay your rocks in the shape that you want on your piece of bark. I think initials would look really cool too, but I went with a heart.

Once your shape is laid out, pick up one jewel rock at a time and put a glob of hot glue on the flat side of the rock. You then press the rock back into its spot in your shape.

After you get every jewel rock glued down and in place, you probably will have a lot of strands of hot glue all over. Carefully, pull and wipe them off your new art piece.

It is then done! It is that simple!

I made my art piece for my sister Joni as part of her birthday present. I love the quote “don’t let anyone ever dull your sparkle.” I love how the dull bark makes the rocks sparkle together, and I thought it was the perfect craft to put the quote on for my sister. To do this step, I simply glued some felt and a piece of cardstock to the back of my bark and wrote her a little message.

This piece acts as a fun, different kind of card too. I love that it is a piece she can put on a shelf in her dorm room to use as a reminder that I love her, and she’s special and worth God’s best for her.

Don’t you love projects that are easy but the impact of them can be huge? This was such an easy craft, yet it had meaning and I think my sister really likes it.

With Valentines Day quickly approaching, I think this would be a fun/not too girly craft to make for your love! I can totally see this propped up on some books in a study or office. I hope you have a great week. Remember there is potential for creativity everywhere. Just add a little imagination to the mix!

Linked up at Nest of Posies

The Roswell Mill

June 25, 2012 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

I love that this is in our backyard! (Not literally of course…but it’s less than a mile away!!) We can walk there! Ha not that we do. If it wasn’t for the HUGE hill that led down from the street to the bridge (and the 90 degree weather) we probably would. Maybe next time!

I don’t think we have gone since Reagan was asleep in the Baby Bjorn on me. She was hilarious to watch take it all in for the “first time”.

Hiking down to the river to throw rocks is one of my boys favorite things to do. We really should do it more! Caleb had been asking for three days to go, so on Sunday afternoon we went! We packed a little dinner picnic and had the best time. There is something so appealing about pulling away from “noise” (and phones) and getting in nature. It’s simplifying and really makes you feel alive.

I just love that these gorgeous woods and running water is literally in the heart of Roswell. Once you are back in there, you totally forget that there are streets and restaurants so close by!

My boys were on cloud nine! Caleb packed his own little pouch with a map and telescope to bring on this “adventure”. He was ready!

I think J would live in the woods if he could. He could throw rocks into that river for hours and not get tired of it.

Reagan was taking it all in, but she has her own little spirit and jumped in quickly. This girl might just be the most adventurous of all my kids.

She learned how to say “rock” on this outing. She really is picking up new words everyday now and reusing them all on her own. It’s mind boggling how fast she is learning! I feel incredibly blessed to be home and get to witness and take in this amazing season in our lives.

This time is going by too quickly. I read this phrase a while back “let them be little” and I couldn’t agree with it more. They are only little once. So allow the sweat, dirt, and messes…even if it means more laundry. There are memories, discoveries and adventures to be made!

I think she had a great time at the Roswell Mill. 🙂 What do you think?!

We had a great weekend! I hope you did too!!!

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